I’ve always known that I was different ever since I was a child. I couldn’t help but to effortlessly be the odd one out. Growing up, this made me upset. I wanted to be cool and fit in like the other kids. But as I grew older, I realized how much I actually love being different. I embrace my individuality now! I love it and it’s what makes me, well, me!
So why is being different a good thing?
Well, because everyone is different anyway, so be your own kind of different.
“Today you are YOU, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” — Dr. Suess
Being different makes you more fascinating
I truly feel that no one is actually boring. They’re being boring because that’s the side of themselves that they decide to show. We all have a weird side. Showing it makes you stand out, it draws more attention to you, and it makes people want to get to know you more. You’ll leave an everlasting impression on others just by simply being yourself. Isn’t that awesome?
You aren’t living to please others
When you are being your authentic self, that is called being different. You are your own person, so might as well be the person who you’re meant to be. It is so liberating and stress-free to just be yourself. It is so exhausting when you try to maintain this certain image and try to please everyone around you. Let go of the need to be this certain person. Just try to effortlessly be. It’s a whole lot easier.
Being different means you’re irreplaceable!
No one is you and that is your power. No one can replace you because no one is YOU. Embrace who you are and love you who you are because you’re never going to be anybody else. You have to accept yourself for who you are and learn to let your quirkiness shine. Flip your flaws and own them. Make the best out of your flaws. Be flawsome.
If there’s something that makes you different that you’re insecure about, turn your insecurities into your strengths. For example, I tend to be clumsy at times. I trip over nothing and am constantly dropping things. I used to be embarrassed about this, but everyone tells me it’s cute and funny. So now instead of being self-conscious about it, I embrace it. I laugh whenever I bump into something! I’m a little clumsy, so what? It makes me who I am!
Instead of being ashamed, be proud. Be proud because you are being your own kind of beautiful by simply being yourself. Once you are proud of who you are, no one can bring you down. Only you have the power to do that. So if anyone thinks that they can replace you? Wrong. No one can compare to you because you don’t have any competition. No one is you or will ever be you. That is your power.
It will make you more attractive and boost your confidence
When you’re being your true self, you are being the best version of yourself that you can be. You are allowing your inner self to shine! Have you ever met someone whose personality just ruined their physical appearance because you could tell they were being fake or tried too hard? A person’s confidence in being themselves is one of the most attractive traits one can have. The good thing is you don’t even have to try so hard. All you have to do is be yourself.
Walk with your head held high because you are different. Own who you were meant to be. No one is the same, so if you learn to embrace your true self, then you’ve got nothing to lose, ever. So go out there and be yourself. After all, you have more to gain than lose that way!
Source: This article was originally posted on The Ascent Publication by Andrea Howell. Photo by Atikh Bana on Unsplash